Latest news with #MichaelStoney
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Barlinnie jail in 'wretchedly poor state'
Inspectors have described Scotland's largest prison as being in a "wretchedly poor state" while operating at 30% over capacity. HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) said it "strongly urged" the Scottish government to do more to tackle the "fundamental problem" of overcrowding at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow. The 143-year-old jail was found to be housing nearly 1,400 prisoners, when it was designed for just 987. The Scottish government has committed to building a new prison to replace Barlinnie on the outskirts of Glasgow. It is due to be competed in 2028 at a cost nearly near £1bn. A week-long HMIPS inspection in November found nearly two thirds of prisoners were sharing cells designed to hold only one person. Its newly-published review said this could also account for a pre-inspection survey finding a high number of prisoners complaining about the behaviour of staff. The survey suggested more than half of prisoners had witnessed staff "abusing, bullying, threatening or assaulting" another prisoner, which HMIPS described as a "serious cause for concern". In a bid to tackle overcrowding, MSPs passed legislation in November 2024 so that prisoners sentenced to less than four years are released after serving 40% of their sentence. HMIPS said in its report: "The need for a replacement prison through the planned new HMP Glasgow remains overwhelming and urgent. "The other deeply concerning factor was the unacceptable level of overcrowding. "Overcrowding makes it harder to access basic entitlements. It also makes it harder for staff to build and retain positive relationships, and the additional daily transactional work in dealing with more prisoners than a prison is designed to accommodate can put a strain on services and relationships." Inspectors did not personally witness any unacceptable behaviour, the report said. In fact, it said they had observed staff engaging prisoners in "cheerful but respectful light-hearted banter". But the results were worse than for other closed prisons and gave "serious cause for concern". Barlinnie governor Michael Stoney welcomed the report which he said recognised the professionalism of all the staff who work in the prison. He said: "They all work really hard to do the best they can, despite the obstacles of the infrastructure in the old buildings. "On staff-prisoner relationships, we would ask anyone to walk around the prison on any given day and they would see how friendly, how engaging, how positive these professional-bounded relationships are." Mr Stoney said he was "very surprised" with the survey results about prisoners witnessing abuse or bullying by staff. "It's not something I recognise or something visitors recognise when they go round the prison," he said. The governor said any complaints may be down to tough anti-drugs initiatives which have been introduced in Barlinnie. Justice Secretary Angela Constance welcomed the findings that the prison is "safe, stable and well-run". She said: "I recognise, however, the need for a replacement, which is why a contract was signed in January to build the new HMP Glasgow. "It will increase prison capacity, transform how prisoners are rehabilitated, improve staff working conditions and generate up to £450m worth of economic benefits." She added that the prison population is increasing across the UK and the Scottish government is looking to use more community sentences where appropriate, investing £25m into alternatives to custody. She said bullying is unacceptable in all circumstances and welcomed the Scottish Prison Service's commitment to developing a new anti-bullying strategy this year. Prison boss: I'd struggle to survive my own jail New Barlinnie prison costs double to almost £1bn
BBC News
08-04-2025
- BBC News
Overcrowded Barlinnie prison in 'wretchedly poor state'
Inspectors have described Scotland's largest prison as being in a "wretchedly poor state" while operating at 30% over Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) said it "strongly urged" the Scottish government to do more to tackle the "fundamental problem" of overcrowding at HMP Barlinnie in 143-year-old jail was found to be housing nearly 1,400 prisoners, when it was designed for just Scottish government has committed to building a new prison to replace Barlinnie on the outskirts of Glasgow. It is due to be competed in 2028 at a cost nearly near £1bn. A week-long HMIPS inspection in November found nearly two thirds of prisoners were sharing cells designed to hold only one newly-published review said this could also account for a pre-inspection survey finding a high number of prisoners complaining about the behaviour of survey suggested more than half of prisoners had witnessed staff "abusing, bullying, threatening or assaulting" another prisoner, which HMIPS described as a "serious cause for concern". In a bid to tackle overcrowding, MSPs passed legislation in November 2024 so that prisoners sentenced to less than four years are released after serving 40% of their said in its report: "The need for a replacement prison through the planned new HMP Glasgow remains overwhelming and urgent."The other deeply concerning factor was the unacceptable level of overcrowding."Overcrowding makes it harder to access basic entitlements. It also makes it harder for staff to build and retain positive relationships, and the additional daily transactional work in dealing with more prisoners than a prison is designed to accommodate can put a strain on services and relationships."Inspectors did not personally witness any unacceptable behaviour, the report fact, it said they had observed staff engaging prisoners in "cheerful but respectful light-hearted banter".But the results were worse than for other closed prisons and gave "serious cause for concern". Barlinnie governor Michael Stoney welcomed the report which he said recognised the professionalism of all the staff who work in the said: "They all work really hard to do the best they can, despite the obstacles of the infrastructure in the old buildings."On staff-prisoner relationships, we would ask anyone to walk around the prison on any given day and they would see how friendly, how engaging, how positive these professional-bounded relationships are."Mr Stoney said he was "very surprised" with the survey results about prisoners witnessing abuse or bullying by staff."It's not something I recognise or something visitors recognise when they go round the prison," he governor said any complaints may be down to tough anti-drugs initiatives which have been introduced in Scottish government has been approached for comment.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scotland's new £1bn prison will be ‘like Costa Coffee', says governor
Scotland's new £1 billion super-prison could be like a 'Costa coffee', the governor of the jail it is replacing has said. Michael Stoney said he wanted HMP Glasgow to be viewed as a community facility rather than a prison and 'a place that you could walk into on any normal day, like a Costa Coffee'. Mr Stoney, the governor of the city's Victorian Barlinnie jail, argued that local groups could use the new prison for meetings and MSPs for constituency surgeries. He was involved in the design of the new facility and praised it for its innovative layout, which promotes accessibility. But the Scottish Tories said his remarks would 'astound' ordinary Scots, with SNP ministers 'set to squander £1 billion on building what sounds more like a luxury hotel than a replacement prison for Barlinnie'. Scottish Government ministers disclosed in February that the cost of HMP Glasgow had surged from its original estimate of £100 million, prompting criticism of its 'nonsense' specification. The Scottish Prison Service has previously described the new jail as having more in common with a school or college campus than with a 19th-century prison. Jail cell halls have been renamed as houseblocks and inmates will be referred to as residents. The amphitheatre-style steps will adorn the front of the main building. The prison will feature an orchard, woodlands, grassy meadows, hedgerows, courtyards, community action spaces, areas for horticulture, walking routes and health and wellbeing gardens. Although plans for 300 special bricks with holes for endangered swifts to live in were dropped, there will be bird nesting boxes that owls can use. There will also be a community café for people visiting the prison and gardens where they can sit, while play equipment will be provided for the visiting children of inmates. Mr Stoney told the Glasgow Times: 'There will be a huge focus on social value. We want to become intrinsically integrated with our local community, support local needs through poverty, deprivation, age and youth work and provide them with resources they lack. 'We are hoping it won't just be seen as a prison but a place that you could walk into on any normal day, like a Costa Coffee. 'We have all sorts of ideas on how to utilise it. Could councillors and MSPs use it for surgeries? Could community groups use it as a meeting space?' Asked about the jail's spiralling price tag, he blamed construction costs, saying: 'It's a lot of money. But unfortunately, that's where the prices are.' He insisted that 'we did not go for anything that looks fanciful or looks like a hotel room' for the design of the cells, which he said would be cheap and quick to repair if damaged by inmates. Instead, he said, the construction 'will focus on effective ventilation and heating, access to natural light and good acoustics' to reduce stress levels among the criminal inhabitants. But Annie Wells, a Scottish Tory MSP for Glasgow, said: 'It is scarcely believable that the governor is talking up the prospect of this new prison being akin to a Costa coffee shop. Scots expect it to be a high-security, no-frills jail, but instead it's being talked up as a tourist attraction or a place for politicians to meet constituents. 'This soft-touch justice approach has been the hallmark of 18 years of the SNP relentlessly weakening Scotland's justice system. It is just common sense that taxpayers and victims should be the priority upon building this prison, instead of making life as cushy as possible for hardened criminals.' The replacement for Barlinnie, which houses some of Scotland's toughest and most prolific criminals, was supposed to be completed in 2019 but is now not scheduled to open until 2028. The new jail in the Germiston area will hold 1,344 inmates – 357 more than Barlinnie, which is suffering from chronic overcrowding. A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: 'HMP Glasgow has been designed to deliver fit-for-purpose, safe and secure accommodation and will have a transformative impact in how we support and rehabilitate people. 'It will be an important part of the city, and with greater space and resources available. We will be able to work with a wider range of charities, support organisations and community groups, all dedicated to meeting the needs of people in custody, their families and the local community.' The Scottish Government has been approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
07-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Scotland's new £1bn prison will be ‘like Costa Coffee', says governor
Scotland's new £1 billion super-prison could be like a 'Costa coffee', the governor of the jail it is replacing has said. Michael Stoney said he wanted HMP Glasgow to be viewed as a community facility rather than a prison and 'a place that you could walk into on any normal day, like a Costa Coffee'. Mr Stoney, the governor of the city's Victorian Barlinnie jail, argued that local groups could use the new prison for meetings and MSPs for constituency surgeries. He was involved in the design of the new facility and praised it for its innovative layout, which promotes accessibility. But the Scottish Tories said his remarks would 'astound' ordinary Scots, with SNP ministers 'set to squander £1 billion on building what sounds more like a luxury hotel than a replacement prison for Barlinnie'. Scottish Government ministers disclosed in February that the cost of HMP Glasgow had surged from its original estimate of £100 million, prompting criticism of its 'nonsense' specification. The Scottish Prison Service has previously described the new jail as having more in common with a school or college campus than with a 19th-century prison. Jail cell halls have been renamed as houseblocks and inmates will be referred to as residents. The amphitheatre-style steps will adorn the front of the main building. The prison will feature an orchard, woodlands, grassy meadows, hedgerows, courtyards, community action spaces, areas for horticulture, walking routes and health and wellbeing gardens. Although plans for 300 special bricks with holes for endangered swifts to live in were dropped, there will be bird nesting boxes that owls can use. There will also be a community café for people visiting the prison and gardens where they can sit, while play equipment will be provided for the visiting children of inmates. Mr Stoney told the Glasgow Times: 'There will be a huge focus on social value. We want to become intrinsically integrated with our local community, support local needs through poverty, deprivation, age and youth work and provide them with resources they lack. 'We are hoping it won't just be seen as a prison but a place that you could walk into on any normal day, like a Costa Coffee. 'We have all sorts of ideas on how to utilise it. Could councillors and MSPs use it for surgeries? Could community groups use it as a meeting space?' Asked about the jail's spiralling price tag, he blamed construction costs, saying: 'It's a lot of money. But unfortunately, that's where the prices are.' He insisted that 'we did not go for anything that looks fanciful or looks like a hotel room' for the design of the cells, which he said would be cheap and quick to repair if damaged by inmates. Instead, he said, the construction 'will focus on effective ventilation and heating, access to natural light and good acoustics' to reduce stress levels among the criminal inhabitants. But Annie Wells, a Scottish Tory MSP for Glasgow, said: 'It is scarcely believable that the governor is talking up the prospect of this new prison being akin to a Costa coffee shop. Scots expect it to be a high-security, no-frills jail, but instead it's being talked up as a tourist attraction or a place for politicians to meet constituents. 'This soft-touch justice approach has been the hallmark of 18 years of the SNP relentlessly weakening Scotland's justice system. It is just common sense that taxpayers and victims should be the priority upon building this prison, instead of making life as cushy as possible for hardened criminals.' The replacement for Barlinnie, which houses some of Scotland's toughest and most prolific criminals, was supposed to be completed in 2019 but is now not scheduled to open until 2028. 'Fit-for-purpose, safe and secure' The new jail in the Germiston area will hold 1,344 inmates – 357 more than Barlinnie, which is suffering from chronic overcrowding. A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: 'HMP Glasgow has been designed to deliver fit-for-purpose, safe and secure accommodation and will have a transformative impact in how we support and rehabilitate people. 'It will be an important part of the city, and with greater space and resources available. We will be able to work with a wider range of charities, support organisations and community groups, all dedicated to meeting the needs of people in custody, their families and the local community.'
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Prison boss: I'd struggle to survive my own jail
The governor of Barlinnie says he would "struggle" to survive life inside his own overcrowded prison. Michael Stoney described Scotland's largest jail as a "pressure cooker" and said new early release laws were necessary for staff and inmates. Up to 390 prisoners are to be eligible for release in the latest move by the Scottish government to reduce the prison population. The emergency legislation was passed to allow those sentenced to less than four years in jail to be released after 40% of their sentence, rather than 50%. The Barlinnie governor told the BBC's Scotcast podcast that his jail was the "insurance policy" for overcrowding in Scotland's prison estate. Mr Stoney said: "Barlinnie's the one that can expand. If it were to fail, there's no space anywhere else for overcrowding. "That's why you're seeing early release and other things that compensate for that." The Glasgow jail is operating at 140% capacity with nearly 1,400 prisoners, when it was designed for just 987. The new law will see an estimated 260 to 390 prisoners eligible for release immediately. They will be released in three tranches over six weeks starting on 18 February. The governor added: "Barlinnie is sitting in the 1,380s just now and the likelyhood is it would go up without releasing the pressure valves. "Population increase makes prison life more difficult for everyone, those that live there, those that work there. "It is like a pressure cooker, and the more you put the pressure on, the more likely there is for negative outcomes." Mr Stoney said two years ago that Barlinnie was so overcrowded it could suffer a catastrophic failure at any time. He said the situation at the 143-year-old jail had not changed since. "There's a danger in the infrastructure that the prison could fail quite significantly - power, water, heating. Any of these things can fail. He added: "You do struggle, there's times we've been a day away from not having any power or heating." According to the latest figures there are 8,223 people in Scotland's prisons – above the target operating capacity of 8,007. The Scottish government said early release could bring a sustained reduction of about 5% to the sentenced prison population. Mr Stoney told Scotcast that he would find it difficult to survive behind bars at Barlinnie or even the Scottish Prison Service's more modern jails. He said: "If you're putting someone behind that door for a long period of time, it's a struggle. "So even if you're locked in the nicest hotel, if you can't go out, because no-one's allowing you to go out, it becomes a difficult space. "Any time you're not in control of your own destiny, or master of these decisions, it's a difficult place to be - and that's regardless of all the other problems in Barlinnie." A replacement for Barlinnie, HMP Glasgow, is slated to open in 2028 at a cost of nearly £1bn - three years later than originally planned. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay accused the Scottish government of delivering poor value, and criticised "nature boxes" and outdoor spaces planned for the new jail. Mr Stoney branded Findlay's comments "annoying", as he has been directly involved in the design of the new jail. "It's a utilitarian approach to designing a prison," he said. "We have bigger cell size, full proper ventilation, proper daylight and nightlight. "We've looked at all the latest research to create good health in people and we've tried to design that into the prison. "None of the things we have designed have been luxurious, or without full utility in mind." Early release in Scotland replicates a change by the UK government as minsters grappled with overcrowded jails in England. Scotland's Justice Secretary Angela Constance Constance said last month it was "not a complete solution" but it would allow the prison estate to continue to function effectively. She said: "I absolutely recognise that the release of prisoners can be distressing for victims of crime and that changing the release point for short-term prisoners has the potential to raise questions." In summer 2024, almost 500 people were let out early under an emergency scheme introduced by the Scottish government. It involved prisoners who had been sentenced to less than four years in jail with less than 180 days still to serve. But it was revealed in September that the prison population was already higher than it had been before the early release. In October, the Scottish government shelved proposals for the automatic early release of long-term prisoners due to concerns from victims of crime. Scotcast: Life Inside our Packed Prisons is available now on BBC Sounds. Up to 390 inmates to be released early in Scotland Why are there so many people in Scotland's jails? Barlinnie at risk of catastrophe, says governor
